Positions through Iterating 02
Positions through Iterating
I approach this brief by reflecting on the things that shape my position as a graphic designer. Mapping the topic, methods, and media that I explored in the preview unit.
The projects that I enjoyed developing most were the ones that allowed me to translate my personal experiences into graphic design and allowed me to reflect on who I am. My practice has been shaped by the idea that through design I could simplify complexity and visualize things that are intangible and that there is something “cathartic” and that I could explore and gain something positive about it. A deeper understanding of who I am and a deeper understanding of others.
Snippet: Exploring the relation between words and form.
In Unit 1 during the brief Methods of Translating, I translated the words of a poem to typographic diagrams. Depicted the theme of the poem (Ecclesiastes 3:1-13) based the imagery of it.
How can I develop further this idea? I know that graphic design is visual and tangible communication, I’m interested in continuing to explore the invisible ideas that makeup who I am, and take part in a community’s identity.
A concept that I have been thinking about a lot lately is faith. Faith is defined as:
- Confidence or trust in a person or thing.
- A belief that is not based on proof.
The idea of hoping and believing in something or someone without proof is “irrational”. However, I have practiced this concept, but it has never been unreasonable to me.
My first idea was to explore the relation between words, form and meaning through the expression of typography.
After a couple of iterations, I decided not to develop it further. I found myself creating these graphics without a purpose or real connection with the act of having faith. I also thought that these are outcomes that are not adding anything new visually or in practice.
Snippet: Frame
In the brief Methods of Iterating, I used motion graphics as a tool to learn and visualize my emotions. Through motion graphics I add a layer of meaning to a composition as well as evoke emotions. add character, expressiveness and narrative to still graphic elements.
I took a frame of one of the animations I did and started developing the before and the after of the abstact form without a real purpose. In this stage, my objective was to exoplore these organic forms through animation.
Frame by frame, organic abstract forms evolve into something new. The previous iteration determines the next.
After 50 iterations, I realized I could incorporate a storyline. During the first 50 iterations, there was no theme in mind, but from the 50th iteration onwards, the abstract form became the word fe (faith in Spanish) and then filled with color. It was my intention to depict the act of having faith. Although it starts out seemingly random, it ends with a meaningful message.
WRITTEN RESPONSE
Iteration 2
METHODS OF CONTEXTUALIZING
The purpose of this brief was to visit the V&A museum and learn about the Rapid Response Collection, as well as discuss and analyze an object from the collection.
In analyzing the collection we noticed that different perspectives are presented under the same topic to provide a multidimensional view. Besides, we identified a few topics on which we have common interests: modernism, product design, advertising, commodification and consumerism, and social and environmental sustainability. Therefore, we chose Primark trousers.
This pair of jeans was made in 2013 the same year that the Rana Plaza building collapsed killing thousands of workers. This factory produces some of Primark’s garments. I saw this object as a symbol that represents wider issues in fast fashion. This industry is known for its highly accelerated cycle of production, distribution, and consumption. Fast fashion companies take advantage of low-cost labor in developing countries to manufacture large quantities of clothing at a rapid pace. They often prioritize speed and cost over quality and durability, which results in the frequent replacement of clothes in a consumer’s wardrobe.
Fast fashion has become popular due to its ability to quickly respond to changing fashion trends, its affordability, and its accessibility to a wide range of consumers. However, it also has negative environmental and social impacts, such as the exploitation of workers. Furthermore, it generates excessive waste and damages the environment.
Through the years, brands have become conscious of these problems. However, the trousers made me reflect on the shared environmental and social impact of brands, consumers, and designers in the fashion industry.
Week 1
WRITTEN RESPONSE
METHODS OF ITERATING
Recently I discovered the work of Ceci Elrich a graphic and motion designer. I was drawn to her work because she creates compositions that integrate color, type, and shapes with motion. Her work reminds me of the emotional expression of Rothko’s art through color, or the creation of atmospheres through light, of James Turrell. I am interested in exploring emotions through graphic design.
I chose After Effects as a tool to explore motion graphics and I copied Composición (2020) which is a short sequence that takes you on a journey through high-contrast color circles, pleasantly mesmerizing to watch.
Copying process
Three components of the composition: Color, Sequence/movement & blending effect.
Color:
Sequence:
On illustrator, I organized 16 circles with specific colors.
After preparing the colors, I created the composition on After Effects.
I modified the scale in order to achieve the illusion of disappearing circles. Applied the same transformation to every circle (15) but modified the position of the keyframes,
depending on the time (order). Time and space are key aspects in achieving a specific motion.
Just like in physics speed: time* distance
Blending effect
I applied the gaussian blur and modified the levels to an adjustment layer, so every circle had the same blur and blended effect.
Final outcome
In the end, I managed to get a very close copy of the original animation.
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What I learned:
In graphic design, the main resources to communicate are color, textures, sizes, and typography which are static. But in After Effects, you can add a layer which is movement, and the resource is time and distance.
Through the manipulation of these two aspects, which are not particularly related to graphic design, it is possible to evoke emotions, create atmosphere and add expressiveness and narrative to color, type, and forms.
WEEK 2
This week I started the iteration process with the text, ‘Conditional Design Workbook’ (2013), in mind. I was introduced to the method of “Conditional design” which consists of developing a plan formed by a systematic set of rules and parameters that focuses on engaging with the process rather than the outcome. By applying this method, designers are prompted to avoid making creative decisions based on feelings but on intellectual criteria.
Important aspects to have in mind:
- Logic as a tool.
- Avoid randomness
- Differences should have a reason.
- Rules as constraints. Perspective on the process stimulates creativity to play with the limitations.
- Design with a plan in mind. Would avoid arbitrary, capricious decisions, and subjectivity.
The expression of emotion is an important aspect of this project; however, one can think that it is far from logical, systematic, and objective. But through the lens of “Conditional design” developing rules that control randomness is part of the plan, in fact, “Use rules as constraints. Constraints sharpen the perspective on the process and stimulate play with the limitations” Maurer, L. et al. (2013).
“Conditional design” made me question how can I constrain the use of emotion in this project? Can I translate what I feel to be expressed in a technical way? Is there a relation between how I feel with After effects tools?
I came up with a plan:
- Problem: How can I depict emotions in a cognitive way? How can I express emotions through movements?
- Tool: After effects (motion graphics) (start the composition thinking about motion).
- Days: Time (seconds)
- Intensity: Scale, position.
- Movement: Repetition | sequence
- Idea: Document one (my) emotion through 5 days – Frustration.
- Input: Techniques I learned in the copying exercise. Use graphic design elements: circles, bright colors, type.
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At the same time, I was reading Atlas of the Heart, a book by professor and author Brene Brown where she explores the psychology of human emotions and how they take part in our behaviors and build our experience in the world.
“Having a nuanced vocabulary around labeling our emotions can be transformative. Usually, we look outside ourselves for solid ground, but emotions are internal and always available to anchor us wherever we are”.
https://www.ryandelaney.co/book-notes/atlas-of-the-heart-summary
I have noticed that frustration is a common emotion whenever I undergo a “new season”. Expecting a lot from myself and forgetting that mastery comes with practice, patience and discipline.
Frustration: Thinking about a situation is unresolvable.
By using basic graphic design elements: circle, color, type. Create some animations that depict frustration in a cognitive way.
Iteration
Even though I tried to follow the steps of what I understood was “Conditional design” I noticed that I didn’t engage in an iterative process with the tool as I intended to. It felt like a fixed idea that I was trying to recreate all over again. Falling, in the end, is a way of learning, even though sometimes it is frustrating to feel that you failed and lost time.
Week 3
WRITTEN RESPONSE #3
METHODS OF TRANSLATING
For this Brief, I choose a poem found in Ecclesiastes 3 called “There is a Time for everything”. The decision to choose this poem was based on my personal experiences during these couple of months. I’ve been experiencing a lot of changes and starting new seasons, and it has been challenging for me to navigate all of this. There have been times when I get frustrated and anxious about what I am facing however I keep remembering that life is a process and what I am currently facing I cannot change rather than accept it, learn from it and improve.
There’s the Right Time for Everything
There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:
A right time for birth and another for death,
A right time to plant and another to reap,
A right time to kill and another to heal,
A right time to destroy and another to construct,
A right time to cry and another to laugh,
A right time to lament and another to cheer,
A right time to make love and another to abstain,
A right time to embrace and another to part,
A right time to search and another to count your losses,
A right time to hold on and another to let go,
A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up,
A right time to love and another to hate,
A right time to wage war and another to make peace.
I’ve decided that there’s nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. That’s it—eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It’s God’s gift
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 MSG
Method of Translation # 1 – Relaying
My first impulse was to make the poem visual. I didn’t put much thought into it, I just drew what the first thing that came to mind based in the parallels of the poem.
I showed this to some friends, and they didn’t understand the message behind the illustrations. It was evident that I was portraying some parallels, but the illustrations were based on my own associations. My translation was so literal that the purpose of translating (cross borders) was achieved.
What I learned from this translation is that I need to go further into experimentation. Perhaps I need to be “riskier” in my next translation.
Method of Translation # 2 – Hybridizing
One of the things that interested me about this poem was that it explores the idea that everything has a perfect time. Every cycle is part of an intricate and specific plan. To me, there is something visual about those ideas. I thought that I could create diagrams using the words.
Method of Translation # 3 – Extrapolating
I thought it would be interesting to extrapolate the poem to my current situation. There are multiple emotions that I have gone through these months so I made a list of the most frequent ones:
| Emotions | Extrapolation |
| Aspire | Achieve Expect | experience Fear | overcome Miss | have Insecurity | confidence Regret | acceptance Struggle | thrive Feel lonely | to be valued Hold on | let go Fail | succeed Improve | fall back Love | hate Avoid | deal Grow | to be content | A right time to aspire and another to achieve, A right time to expect and another to experience, A right time to fear and another to overcome, A right time to miss and another to have, A right time to cry and another to laugh, A right time to regret and another to accept, A right time to struggle and another to thrive, A right time to feel lonely and to feel valued, A right time to hold on and another to let go, A right time to fail and another to succeed, A right time to improve and another to fall back, A right time to love up and another to hate, A right time to avoid and another to deal with, A right time to grow and another to be content |
My next step was to translate these emotions into colors, lines, and forms. How can I show these emotions?
My first idea was to
Based on the idea that life is full of seasons and cycles I build these graphs that show the quantity, duration and intensity of each emotion.
However, I needed to explore further the representation of these emotions and refine the outcome. Also, in the tutorial, my classmates didn’t understood the graphs.
Further Exploration
How can I show opposites through graphic elements?
Through these experiments, I got a better understanding of these emotions. They aren’t opposites (positive/negative), they feel like seasons, changes, or in other words, transformations. It didn’t make sense to represent the 28 emotions with the same elements.
Based on the scientific approach I got to the Hybridizing exploration, I started drawing different ways in which I felt/visualize each pair of emotions.
Color was a useful tool to visualize the transformation of emotions.